Carton setting-up device



May 12, 1936. H. K. POWELL CARTON SETTING-UP DEVICE Filed March 14, 1935 Ink/BT23? v Herzryli POLIAZZZI W 5w a):

Patented May 12, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Paper Mills, Illinois Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Application March 14, 1935, Serial No. 11,173

6 Claims. (Cl. 93-36) The present invention relates to a device for Setting up or erecting cartons of the type composed of a fiber body portion and an interlocking bottom, and has particular reference to the provision of means for producing an interlock between the body portion of a collapsible container and its bottom member;

A principal object of the invention is to provide a device for setting up or erecting a fiber container of the type having a body portion and a bottom member, and means for formng an interlock between the body portion and the bottom member.

An additional object is to provide a settingup device which will move the bottom member of a fiber container with respect to the body portion of the container, whereby to produce an interlock between the body portion and the bot tom memben' A further object is to provide a setting-up device for cartons to be described hereinafter.

These and other objects will be observed from a consideration of the following specification and by reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a perspective view of a setting-up device constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1, taken along line 2-2 thereof, the flgure showing an initial stage in the setting-up operation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to that of Fig. 2 and showing a later step in the operation of the device;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a container adapted to be set up or erected by the device shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a view of the end of the container shown in Fig. 1, showing the engagement of the interlocking means by which the bottom member is secured to the body portion of the container.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is disclosed a container of the type adapted to be set up by my improved erecting device. This container consists of a fiber body portion [0 having a series of longitudinally extending creases II. The body portion is produced in a tubular form by folding over and securing together the opposite ends of the blank from which the body portion is produced, as by means of the staples l2 shown in Fig. 4.

The particular carton shown in the drawing is of a half moon or semicircular shape. This shape is imparted to the container by means of integrally attached top l3 and bottom l4. The

bottom member I4 is secured to the body portion Ill along a horizontal, substantially straight score line l5. When the bottom member is rotated about this score line from the vertical position shown in Fig. 4 to the substantially horizontal position shown in Fig. 5, the straight score line imparts to the back of the. container a plane shape. It will be understood that the top member 13 is secured in a similar manner to the upper end of the body portion i0.

The bottom member I4 is provided with a series of openings l6 which are positioned around and spaced from the free or unhinged edge of the bottom member, as shown in Fig. 4. Along the edge of the body portion In are provided a plurality of tongues or fingers ll corresponding in number and position to the number and position of the openings 16, so that each opening [6 is provided with a tongue I! adapted to pass through it to form an interlock between the unhinged portions of the bottom member I l and the body portion Ill.

The bottom member I4 is of such dimensions as to be rotatable to a position within the body portion I 0, and the shape of the bottom member I4 is such as to impart to the front of the container a substantially semicircular shape.

To erect this container I have provided the de-'- vice shown in Figs. 1 to 3 in which a base or frame member 20 has mounted on it a vertically extending tubular member 2|, the latter being secured in position by means of a bottom flange 22 and screws or nails 23. This tubular member 2| is of a shape similar to that of the container l0 when the latter is in the. desired erect or set-up condition. That is, the tubular member 2| has a half moon or kidney-like shape corresponding to the shape of the container which it is desired to set up. Preferably, the height of the tubular member 2| is about the same as the height of the body portion Ill of the container. To the upper edge of the flat back portion of the tubular member 2| is secured a bottom-engaging element 24 by means of hinge 25. The bottom-engaging element 24 is of a shape similar to the cross sectional shape of the container it is desired to erect on the device and is of such, dimensions as to permit it to be rotated downwardly within the body portion of the container.

Along the flat back of the tubular member 2! is secured a resilient spring 26 which has a curved portion 21 adjacent the top of the tubular member and a substantially horizontal portion 28, the latter having a normal position in engagement with the element 24 when the latter is in substantially horizontal position.

In operation, the tubular member 2I is made to enter the body portion of a container it is desired to erect on the device, thereby distending the walls or body portion of the container and maintaining the same in set-up or erect position. To facilitate the entrance of a tubular member 2I within the body portion of a. container it is preferred to taper the tubular member 2I so that it has a smaller size adjacent its upper end.

When the container is properly positioned on the outside of tubular member 2I the hinge 25 will lie just beneath the score line I5 by which the bottom member I4 of the container is hinged to the body portion thereof.

The tubular member 2| is cut away opposite to the hinge 25, thereby affording greater freedom of movement of the bottom-engaging element 24.

The bottom member It is pressed downwardly to a position within the body portion I0, as will be seen in Fig. 2. Interlocking of the fingers I! with their corresponding openings I6 in the bot tom member is produced by rotating the fingers I'I downwardly against the bottom member. As

- the fingers I! are longer than the distance of the holes I6 from the bottom portion III, it will be seen that it is necessary to rotate the bottom member Id of the container downwardly within the body portion asubstantial distance in order that the points of the tongues I! may enter the openings I6. The order of engagement of the fingers IT with the openings I6 is from the fingers closest to the score line I5 to the center fingers. That is, the fingers adjacent the score line I5 first are pressed into engagement, and then the next adjacent fingers are engaged. This order of engagement is maintained so as to prevent release of certain of the fingers when others are pressed into engagement with the openings. The fingers closest to the score line I5 require the greatest amount of rotation of the bottom member to effect engagement and, consequently, are first engaged. Then, the amount of rotation necessary to engage the other fingers is not sufiicient to release the first engaged fingers.

When the bottom member I4 is pressed downwardly within the body portion as described, the bottom-engaging element 24 travels with it against the action of the horizontal arm 28 of the spring member 26. As the tongues H are pressed downwardly a sufficient distance as to per mit them to enter the openings I 6 from the outer side thereof, pressure against the fingers'is released and the arm .28 of the spring presses upwardly against the bottom-engaging element 24, thereby causing movement of the bottom member with respect to the body portion and fingers of the container. This action causes the bottom member I4 to return to the horizontal position shown in Fig. 5, thereby completing the erection of the container when all of the fingers have been interlocked with the openings I6. By properly adjusting the length of the fingers I'I, engagement of the fingers with the corresponding openings I6 may be made simultaneous, as will be understood by one skilled in the art.

After completion of the interlock of the bottom member with the body portion of the container as described, the tubular member 2| is withdrawn from the body portion of the container, to complete the erection of the container.

Various changes and variations in the structure described heretofore are possible without departing from the scope of my invention. For instance, all such changes and modifications are intended to be included in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for setting up a. collapsible fiber container of the type having a tubular body portion, a bottom member adapted to be pressed upwardly within said body portion, and tongue and slot means on said body portion and said bottom member for forming a releasable interlock from the under side of said bottom member when the latter is within said body portion, comprising a tapered tubular member for entering said body ..portion and maintaining the same in set-up condition, and means within said tubular member for moving a bottom member for a container with respect to the body portion thereof and for producing an interlockbetween said tongue and slot means from the under side of said bottom member.

2. A device for setting up a collapsible fiber container of the type having a. tubular body portion, a bottom member adapted to be pressed upwardly within said body portion, and tongue and slot means on said body portion and said bottom member for forming a releasable interlock from the under side of said bottom member when the latter is within said body portion, comprising a tubular member for entering the body portion of a container and maintaining the same in set-up condition, a bottom member-engaging element within said body portion for producing engagement of said tongue and slot means from the under side of said bottom member when said element is displaced from its normal position, and

resilient means for returning said element to a predetermined position with respect to said tubular member when said element is displaced from its-normal position.

3. A device for setting up a collapsible fiber container of the type having a. tubular body portion, a bottom member hinged to the body portion along a substantially straight score line, and interlocking means for securing the unhinged portion of said bottom member to said body portion from the under side of the bottom member, comprising a tubular member for maintaining the body portion of the container in setup condition, a bottom-engaging element hinged to said tubular member in a position corresponding to the position of the hinged portion of said bottom memb'er, andmeans for returning said element to a predetermined position when said element is moved out of its normal position.

4. A device for setting up a collapsible fiber container of the type having a tubular body portion, a bottom member hinged to the body portion along a substantially straight score line, and interlocking means for securing the unhinged portion of said bottom member to said body portion from the under side of the bottom member, comprising a tubular member for maintaining the body portion of the container in set-up condition, a bottom-engaging element hinged to said tubular member in a position corresponding to the position of the hinged portion of said bottom member, and resilient means for returning said element to a predetermined position when said element is moved out of its normal position, said tubular member being cut away opposite the hinged portion of said bottomengaging element.

5. A device for setting up a collapsible fiber container of the type having a tubular body portion, a bottom member hinged to the body por- 9,040,164 =tion along, a substantially straight score line,

and interlocking means for securing the unhinged portion of said bottom member to said body portion from the under side of the bottom member, comprising a tubular member for entering the body portion of a container and maintaining the same in set-up condition, and a spring hinged to said tubular member in a position corresponding to the position of the hinged portion of said bottom member and operable to return said bottom member to a predetermined position when depressed within the body portion of the container.

6. A device for setting up a collapsible fiber container of the type having a tubular body portion, a bottom member hinged to the body portion along a substantially straight score line, and interlocking means for securing the unhinged portion of said bottom member to said body portion from the under side 0! the bottom member, comprising a tubular member for entering the body portion of a container and maintaining the same in set-up condition, and a spring hinged to said tubular member in a position corresponding to the position of the hinged portion of said bottom member and. operable to return said bottom member to a predetermined position when depressed within the body portion of the container, said tubular member being cut away opposite the hinged portion of said spring.

HENRY K. POWELL. 

